Faucet and combination thereof.



F. J. FIRTH.

FAUOETS AND COMBINATION THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1909.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

W I TIA/E6858:

FRANK J. FIRTH, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

saunas Ann coirnmri'rroitr mates.

no. M4400;

s pecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1909. Serial No. 471,525.

l atente d March 9, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. FIRTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadel hia, in the county of-Philadelphia and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in. Faucets and in Combinations Thereof, of which the following is a specification.

The principal objects of the present invention are, first, to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive and easily manipulated faucet combination device which can be readily affixed or connected to hot and cold water or other supply pi es; second, to prevent the destruction or eterioration of the washers of faucets, particularly hot Water faucets and to minimize or avoid leaks and waste and in many instances stains caused thereby upon porcelain or other fittings and to reduce the cost and annoyance of repairs and lumber charges, and third, to prevent acci ental scalding or burning from excessively hot water drawn from faucets.

The invention will first be described in connection with the annexed drawings that illustrate one of the various combinations and arrangements herein referred to and for which the claims are made.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of a faucet device or fitting embodyin features of'the invention, and Fig. 2, is a front view of the same with parts thereof removed so as to show the valves.

in the drawings 1, is the hollow body of the fitting and it is provided intermediate of its ends with a discharge connection 2, that communicates with its interior. As shown the body .comprises a T-union to the middle of which is connected, by means of a short piece of ipe the casing 9:, of an a propriate guard va ve orspigot and to the en s of which are connected, by means of short pieces of pipe, the casings 3 and 4, of appropriate valves for controlling the passage of different fluids, as cold and hot water, respectively. The spigots, faucets or valves may be of any kind or variety, but the cold water valve is to be normally open and the hot water valve normally closed. This may of course be accom lished in a variety of ways which will depen upon the type of valve selected as best adapted to the tank, tub, hopper or basin in use and the service desired, but one way of accomplishing it will be described in connection with the rabbit-ear valves shown on the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2, the hot Water valve 5, is normally held to its seat by the spring 6, and is lifted therefrom when the levers 7, are pinched together. The cold water valve 8, is held by it's spring 9, normally clear of its seat 10, and is brought to its seat when the levers 11, are pinched. 12, is the handle for operating the plug, stopper or valve 12, of

the guard, valve or spigot. 13, is the cold water supply connection and it is shown as connected with the'valve casing 3, by means of an elbow or bend and a short piece of pipe. The hot water connection 14', is shown as similarly connected with the valve casing i.

When no water is being drawn, which is the normal condition of affairs, the plug or valve 12, of the guard, faucet or spigot is closed, the hot water valve 5 is closed, and the cold water,valvc 10, is open. Cold water therefore fills the hollow body 1, and so much of'the discharge connection L as is closed by the valve of the guard spigot or faucet.

Thus hot water is present on one side of the valve 5, and .cold water is present on .the other side thereof, and this is a condition that minimizes the leakage of hot water, first, by cooling the valve 5, lessening the risk of destroying the rubber, leather'or other washer or stopgap from superheated water, and second, by interposing a body of cold water between the valve 5, and the valve 12 0f the forward or guard faucet. The valve 12*, of the spigot also opposes leakage and the fixture as a wholecan be used even in connection with a supply of very hot water, such as is obtained by what is called steam heating, without leaking and consequently without the waste of water or presence of such iron or other stains as are produced on basins or other. receptacles by leakage of hot water. When water is to be drawn the valve of the guard spigot or faucet is opened and cold water escapes through the connection 2, because the valve 10, 1s normally open. If hot water is wanted the valve 5, is opened and hot Water mingles with the cold water and escapes through the discharge connection 2, usually giving a mixture hot enough for all ordinary uses and purposes. If very hot water is required the levers 11, of the cold water valve are pinched, thus closing the valve 10, and permitting only hot water to escape through the connection 2. Even if the hot water 'valve 5, be opened before the valve of the guard n if' t 1'. still there would not escape from the connection 2, a supply of unduly hot water because the cold water valve 10, being normally open, insures the presence of a supply of cold water sufiicient for moderat ing the hot water. If desired a ring or other device may be placed around the levers of either of the hot or cold water valves, so as to hold them together after they have beenso pinched, or of course valves may be used that are not self-acting, but which remain in the position in which they are set.

What I claim is:

1. A faucet fitting comprising a hollow body provided at its intermediate portion with a valved discharge connection and on a one side of said connection with a normally 3. A faucet fitting comprising a T-union having a discharge spigot at its side and having at one of its ends a normally open spring valve and at. the other of its ends a normally closed spring valve, substantially as described;

4; A faucet fitting comprising a hollow body provided with a discharge spigot, a hot water connection to one end of the body, a

coldwater connection to the other end, a normally closed valve between the hot water connection and spigot, and a normally open valve between the cold water connection and spigot whereby the body is normally filled with cold water, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a spigot of hot and cold water connections leading theretoand of a normally closed valve in the hot water connection and a normally open valve in the cold water connection, whereby when said spigot is opened the'supply is cold and can. be thereafter varied at will by the manipulation of said valves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANK J. FIRTH.

VVitne'sses:

S. E. PATTERSON, FRANK E. FRENCH. 

